Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing atmospheric pollutants and for producing carbon dioxide and hydrochloric acid from effluent gas streams. The effluent gas is first subjected to cryogenic refrigeration to remove many of the atmospheric pollutants as liquids and the residual gas stream is subjected to centrifugation while the carbon dioxide is frozen to occlude particulate solids and while the gaseous hydrochloric acid and nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, and miscellaneous gases are liquified and separated from the frozen carbon dioxide by centrifugal force, removal of the frozen carbon dioxide to discharge, against the resistance caused by the centrifugal force.

Abstract: A welder's helmet having a face-protective shell adapted for wearing over the face of a welder during welding operations, the shell having a front wall provided with a sight opening therethrough and rearwardly extending walls including top, bottom, and side walls, peripheral to the front wall for enclosing the face of a welder is provided. The helmet features a retractable carrier frame for a light-filtering lens normally in a position framing the sight opening and movable upwardly and backwardly to a position substantially coplanar with and substantially entirely within the area of the top wall of the face protective shell of the helmet and vice versa, guide means for the aforesaid movement of the carrier frame, and actuator means enabling a welder wearing the helmet to carry out the movement of the carrier frame. Also provided is an easily replaceable protective cover lens.

Abstract: An acid-based cleaner and related methods, for cleaning and treating tile, limestone-based cement and concrete and similar surfaces to maintain a slip-resistant surface, and to harden and strengthen the grout or cement and make it more resistant to penetration by salt or other deterious chemicals. The cleaner comprises an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, and a surface active or wetting agent. Also, the invention, upon application to the surface, creates a microbe-free surface as required in hospitals, laboratories, and the like.

Abstract: A urethral inserted applicator for prostate electromagnetic hyperthermia includes apparatus for holding and positioning at least one electromagnetic energy applicator in a urethral passage extending through a prostate gland. The apparatus includes a multi-passage or multi-tube, balloon type urinary or Foley catheter with fluid-dry passages for insertion of microwave antenna or capacitive electrode type applicators, and an electromagnetic compatible type temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the prostate tissue. The urinary catheter provides an open fluid receiving tube enabling urine drainage from the bladder and a balloon at the tip region of the catheter for engaging the bladder neck to properly position and hold the apparatus during treatment. An electromagnetic generator supplies electromagnetic energy to the applicators.

Abstract: Spectral and imaging data can be corrected for various types of distortion, such as phase and baseline distortion, by fitting a mathematical model of the expected data to the experimental data. The model includes parameters relating to the distortions to be corrected. The model is fitted to the data by adjusting the parameters of the model, generally through a regression analysis, and when a best fit is obtained, the parameters resulting in the best fit provide the information necessary to correct the data. For example, phase parameters determined in fitting the model to the data can be used to determine a phase function to be applied to the data to phase correct the data, or the various other parameters determined may be used in the model with the phase parameters set to zero to calculate the simulated phase corrected data. Parameter for baseline or other distortions may be similarly obtained and used.

Abstract: A down-hole oil well heater for improved recovery of oil includes a heating element comprising a sheet of electrically conductive paper which generates heat as a result of resistance to current flow therethrough and spaced apart, primary conductor elements preferably in the form of thin metal strips attached, as by sewing, to the conductive paper to provide uniform distribution of current flow through the paper from one conductor element to the other. Secondary conductor elements are electrically connected to said primary conductor elements and controller means are electrically connected to such secondary conductor elements for controlling the flow of electricity to the electrically conductive paper. The heating element covers a portion of conventional oil well tubing and is sandwiched between layers of electrically nonconductive, insulating material.

Abstract: The covering of the invention is made in separate cover sets of tough and strong flexible material, each set being made up of separate pieces for attachment to a longitudinal side of an automotive vehicle, normally a pick-up truck, in serial arrangement to extend from bottom to top of panels thereof. The pieces are attached by fasteners including marginal pockets in the sheet material for engaging parts of the vehicle, sets of snap fasteners, and strip fasteners of rigid or semi-rigid material most of which are of hook formation. Strip fasteners of flat formation are provided for tucking into the doors of the vehicle along the windows thereof.

Abstract: An article of furniture that is convertible from a couch configuration into a bed configuration. The ability to convert the article is provided by a two pieced frame assembly including a seat section and a back section which are pivotally attached preferably at only two discreet points. The back section is provided with legs that support the back section in a horizontal position when the article is in its bed configuration which, in turn, is attached by pivots to the rear portion of the seat section and supports same. The front portion of the seat section is supported by separate legs.

Abstract: A wall repair device is provided for aiding in the repair of a hole in a standard plasterboard wall. The device comprises a rigid mounting plate, a first hollow cylinder which forms a cavity, a second hollow cylinder disposed within the cavity of the first cylinder so as to be in telescoping relationship thereto, and an advancing structure for selectively drawing the second cylinder outwardly through the top portion of the first cylinder to a locked, extended position such that the device becomes self-supporting within the interior of the wall to be repaired, the mounting plate substantially covering a hole therein. A layer of plaster is then applied to fill the remainder of the hole, the mounting plate serving as a foundation for the plaster.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having a sole construction comprising a heel plenum configured to accommodate the tuberosity of the calcaneous of the heel of the user, a forefoot plenum preferably having a plurality of interconnecting plenum members configured to accommodate a corresponding plurality of metatarsal heads of the forefoot of the user, both plenums being preferably filled with cushioning material and compressed air and being interconnected by passageways for the controlled flow of air back and forth between the plenums during wearing of the shoe.

Abstract: A portable container for liquids is provided, comprising an insulated outer casing having a narrow neck portion opening into a larger portion, and sized and configured to enclose a removable, and preferably disposable, inner vessel also having a narrow neck portion opening into a larger liquid storage portion. A releasable clamp is secured to the neck portion of the outer casing and adapted to cooperate with a substantially rigid neck for the inner vessel to securely hold the neck of the inner vessel in a fixed position with respect to the outer casing. The substantially rigid neck for the inner vessel may be formed as part of the vessel itself or may be formed as an insert for the neck portion of the inner vessel. When formed as an insert for the neck portion of the inner vessel, the clamp will seal the neck portion of the inner vessel to the substantially rigid neck to prevent leakage of the contents of the inner vessel around the neck, as well as hold the neck in position in the outer casing.

Abstract: Information storage media, such as cassette tapes or laser discs adapted to be read by machines, such as cassette tape players or compact disc players, has some information stored thereon adapted to be played back at a first speed and other information stored thereon adapted to be played back at a second speed. The storage or playback characteristic of the information on the media will generally vary with the speed at which the information is adapted to be read and the information is divided between the two speeds based on such characteristics. The media may advantageously be used to provide full text readings of magazines, newspapers, books, etc., and to provide indexing for such full text readings. The full text readings are broken into separate informational items, such as the individual magazine or newspaper articles or book chapters, which are stored on the media to be read back at a slow speed while individual summaries of the separate information items are stored to be read back at a faster speed.

Abstract: Previous weather resistant cementitious compositions in which succinic acid derivatives were incorporated to improve weather resistance have been found to suffer from an undesirable decrease in compressive strength. In accordance with the invention, compressive strength is significantly increased without substantially reducing weather reistance by adding an antifoam agent to the mixture prior to setting into a solid.

Abstract: A duplex filter cloth for chamber type filters has two initially separate pieces secured together, as by stitching, around circumferential terminal edges of turned-down collar portions of the respective pieces, which portions are closely and smoothly interlapped to provide a barrel neck for the duplex filter cloth. Turning down of the collar portions is accomplished by an elongate conical mandrel of a jig press which operates relative to mandrel-receiving openings in pairs of bed plates, inserted in turn in such jig press, to effectively turn-down circumferential marginal portions of filtrate feed openings of respective flat filter cloth sheets.

Abstract: A weight supporting glove has a flap attached thereto near the heel which extends distally toward the fingertips. The flap is equipped with a Velcro or similar type fastener on its distal end which cooperates with a mating Velcro strip on the palm of the glove. In use, the flap is wrapped around the handle of a barbell or similar weight and fastened to the palm of the glove to form a loop which assists in supporting the weight.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser device comprising a shell adapted to be wall-mounted substantially vertically in a bathing or washing area and to removably and replaceably receive and hold one or more elongate bottles for liquids useful before, after, or while bathing, each bottle having a valve assembly operable by a push button along an axis extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of its associated bottle as positioned substantially vertically for use. The shell has a hinged and preferably lockable cover part that can be propped open when raised for allowing a bottle to be removed for refilling. Most of the components of the dispenser device are preferably fabricated from a thermoplastic material, as by well-known injection molding techniques.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a controlled amount of reagent to one or more miscroscope slide or the like includes a spray chamber and a carousel adapted to hold a plurality of slides and to be mounted for rotation in the spray chamber. Nozzles are mounted to spray reagent onto the slides in the carousel as they rotate by the nozzles. Accurate control of the time or angular rotation during which the reagent is sprayed from the nozzles is obtained by placing a control valve in the flow line between a reagent pump and the nozzle and operating the valve to control flow of reagent. Control circuitry determines the position of the slides and carousel in the spray chamber and coordinates operation of the pumps, valves, and rotation of the carousel to accurately cause spray of reagent onto the slides. The slide holding carousel may be replaced by an interchangable centrifuge rotor when it is desired to perform cytocentrifuging tests.

Abstract: Unlike the prior art crutch that in essence extends the shoulder to the ground to bear the weight of the injured person when walking, the novel walking device of the invention includes an upright staff that extends the pelvis to the ground on the side of an injury. Upper and lower receiving members for receiving and securing to the thigh and calf of an injured leg are attached to the staff and securing means secure the thigh and calf to said receiving means. The injured limb bears the load in compression rather than in shear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing oil, bitumen, precious metals, and hydrocarbon gases from mined oil-bearing rock material, such as tar sands and soil shale. The rock is ground, preconditioned in a heated and pressurized atmosphere devoid of oxygen, and subsequently centrifuged in the presence of an oil-replacement gas to produce oil, and also any precious metal particles that are present in the oil-bearing rock material. The produced oil and precious metals are subsequently separated from each other by centrifuging.